Fabric, Pore Size Distribution, and Permeability of Sandy Soils
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical Engineering
Volume 112, Issue 9
Abstract
Studies of the pore size characteristics and permeability of compacted sandy soils are described. Samples of mixtures of Ottawa sand and kaolinitic clay were prepared by kneading compaction and pluvial compaction was used to prepare samples of a clean Ottawa sand. The pore size distributions (PSD) of the samples were determined by mercury intrusion porosimetry, and the permeability of each sample was measured by a falling head test with back pressure. A pore size density function was derived from the PSD data. For the sand specimens, this function showed a singly modal characteristic on a log diameter scale while those of the sand‐clay mixtures showed bimodal characteristics. The influence of varying water content and compactive effort on the fabrics of the soils studied could be readily characterized by changes in the resulting pore size distributions and density functions. A probability‐based permeability model which relates the pore size density function to the permeability of compacted soils was verified experimentally.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
1.
Ahmed, S., Lovell, C. W., Jr. and Diamond, S. (1974). “Pore Size and Strength of Compacted Clay.” Journal of the Geotechnical Engineering Division, ASCE, Vol. 100, No. GT4, 407–425.
2.
American Society for Testing and Materials (1985). “Standard Test Method for Determination of Pore Volume and Pore Volume Distribution of Soil and Rock by Mercury Intrusion Porosimeter.” Designation D 4404‐84, Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol. 04.08, 860–867.
3.
Delage, P., and Lefebvre, G. (1984). “Study of the Structure of a Sensitive Champlain Clay and Its Evolution During Consolidation.” Canadian Geotechnical Journal, Vol. 21, No. 1, 21–35.
4.
Garcia‐Bengochea, I., Lovell, C. W., and Altschaeffl, A. G. (1979). “Relation Between Pore Size Distribution and Permeability of Silty Clay.” Journal of the Geotechnical Engineering Division, ASCE, Vol. 105, No. GT7, 839–856.
5.
Hazen, A. (1911). Discussion of “Dams on Sand Foundations.” by A. C. Koening, Transactions, ASCE, Vol. 73, pp. 199–203.
6.
Holtz, R. D. and Kovacs, W. D. (1981). An Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering, Prentice‐Hall Inc., Englewood Cliffs, N.J.
7.
Juang, C. H., and Holtz, R. D. (1986a). “A Probabilistic Permeability Model and the Pore Size Density Function.” International Journal for Numerical and Analytical Methods in Geomechanics, Vol. 10.
8.
Juang, C. H., and Holtz, R. D. (1986b). “A Note on Preparation of Specimens on Noncohesive Material for Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry.” Geotechnical Testing Journal, ASTM, Vol. 9, No. 3.
9.
Lohnes, R. A., Tuncer, E. R. and Demirel, T. (1976). “Pore Structures of Selected Hawaiian Soils.” Transportation Research Record 612, TRB, 76–79.
10.
Reed, M. A., et al., 1979). “Frost‐Heaving Rate Predicted from Pore Size Distribution.” Canadian Geotechnical Journal, Vol. 16, No. 3, 463–472.
11.
Washburn, E. W. (1921). “Note on a Method of Determining the Distribution of Pore Sizes in a Porous Material.” Proceedings, National Academy of Sciences, Vol. 7, pp. 115–116.
12.
Winslow, D. N. (1969). “The Pore Size Distribution of Portland Cement Paste.” Thesis presented to Purdue University, at West Lafayette, Indiana, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science.
13.
Zimmie, T. F. and Almaleh, L. J. (1976). “Shrinkage of Soil Specimens During Preparation for Porosimetry Tests.” Soil Specimen Preparation for Laboratory Testing, STP 599, ASTM, 202–215.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Geotechnical Engineering
Volume 112 • Issue 9 • September 1986
Pages: 855 - 868
Copyright
Copyright © 1986 ASCE.
History
Published online: Sep 1, 1986
Published in print: Sep 1986
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.